OREPUKI

Otago Witness, Issue 2375, 7 September 1899, Page 29

OREPUKI

August 3(^— The shale works, which promise so much for* Orepuki and district, are pro- j gressing rather slowly. This is doubtless owing to the non-arrival of the Waikato, which has a large quantity of machinery for the company. A splendid seam of shale has, however, been assured, and all connected •with the syndicate are confident of ultimate success. I understand that it is intended to manufacture soap and candles on the premises. Even if the oil, etc., manufactured should prove unprofitable, the shale itself will always command a ready market, being especially valuable for gas-making purposes. A considerable amount of friction has occurred between the company and the miners generally, but the chief trouble seems to centre round the question of settlement. ' However, this difficulty has been partly settled, the Mining Association having recommended to the warden a piece of ground to be Eet apart for residence sites, etc. Football. — Our two local clubs, long rivals for supremacy, fought a bitter battle a short time ago, and the "Stars," completely vanquished, are hardly likely to "shine" again. 1 * Coining Events.— A ball is promised shortly, !»ut, alas for Orepuki ! it is hardly likely to prove very successful owing to the indifferent spirit of the public generally. One time we managed these affairs better, but nowadays everything is left to a few. There is the •Mutual Improvement Society, for instance. iWhy does it not get more support? The place is over-run with young men, and on these New Zealand must rely in the near future. Football flourishes, but it would seem that young Orepukdans, in exercising their phrfioal sowers, neglect their mental

ones altogether. At any rate, our young people scarcely profit much by the magnificent chances offered by the free education system of the colony. ♦ Warden's Court. — At last we are to have a regular sitting of the Warden's Court. So many years have the miners slept on their rights that it seems a wonder this modicum of justice was granted them in the eleventh hour. No more shall we be hurried' off to Riverton for every trivial point of law or application. Building. — Never has there been such activity in the building trade as at present, and shops and dwellings are going up on every side. This is partly owing to the stir caused by the advent of the Oil Company, and also to the large number of young people making nests for themselves. Thanks to the increasing activity displayed in the marriage market, land and houses are at a premium. Roade. — How long are we going to groan under the affliction of bad roads? Never have I seen the roads as bad as they have Deen this winter. The sooner we drift ay/ay from the County Council and form ourselves into a borough the better. September 4. — The shareholders of the Te Tua Dairy Factory held their annual meeting at Hirstfield the other day, and the report showed that after paying the suppliers 3Jd for their milk last season, there being a handsome balance left. It was resolved to carry the surplus on to next season. The Te Tua, which was a few years ago a piece of country densely covered with bush, lying along the coast between Orepuki and the Waiau Mouth, is now cleared of the scrub and timber, and has proved to be one of the finest grazing districts in Southland. The grass in summer is most luxuriant, the bush affording ample shelter for the stock in winter. There are also two flawmills in the locality, one of which, owned by Messrs Collins and Rolf, is a large one. They turn out timber of all descriptions, conveying it to the Orepuki railway station, where they have a large yard and siding, by means of a six-horse waggon. The other is owned by Pearce and Sons, who are cutting principally sleeper s. Valuations and Settlement. — The Commissioner of Crown Lands and three other members of the Southland Waste Land Board visited this district last week, their object being to value some of the dairy farms here— also to look over the piece of land the Miners' Association had agreed to be set aside for settlement in lieu of residence areas. The piece selected does not meet with their approval. They would prefer a piece close up to the coal and shale works, which, in the miners' point of view, ia entirely out of the question as the works and their .surroundings are situated in the heart of the goldfields, and if closely populated this would materially retard the progress of the miners. We, as gold miners, would recommend the board to turn their attention to that parcel of land west of the railway station, which has already been taken from the goldfields, and leased under the lease in perpetuity system. Were that block resumed from the present occupiers and cut up into sections, it would meet with a ready sale, it being most admirably adapted for settlement, as it is part of the present township of Hirstfield, and tapped by the company's tramway lin*.